Sealed Clothes Machine Control Panel for Humidity and Dust Protection
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing control panels in clothes processing machines, such as washing machines and dryers, are not effectively designed to withstand high humidity environments, leading to potential failures due to water vapor condensation and dust accumulation, which affects the stability and functionality of electronic components.
Innovation Solution
A control panel component with a protection cover made of plastic, featuring a first seal member for water and dust protection, a ventilation slot for pressure balance, and a simplified design with clamping means and elastic members for light guide fixation, ensuring the electronic components remain stable and functional.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If electronic members are exposed to high humidity environment in washroom, then the machine can be placed conveniently, but the electronic members are at risk of failure due to water vapor condensation and dust accumulation
Solution Approach 1:
The control panel is divided into a front panel and a back panel, with the electronic member housed in a sealed compartment formed between these two panels. This segmentation isolates the electronic component from the external high-humidity environment while maintaining the machine's overall structure integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
A sealed compartment acts as an intermediary barrier between the electronic member and the external environment. The compartment includes sealing structures such as seal rings and sealing columns that prevent water vapor and dust from reaching the electronic component, while still allowing the control panel to function normally in washroom conditions.
2Reliability
If control panel is sealed to protect electronic members, then protection against water vapor and dust is improved, but pressure imbalance may occur due to water vapor generation during machine operation
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing is not complete throughout the entire compartment. A localized breathable portion is provided in the rear panel, allowing selective permeability to water vapor while maintaining overall sealing. This local modification enables pressure equalization without compromising the protective function of the sealed compartment.
Solution Approach 2:
The breathable portion of the rear panel acts as a porous or permeable structure that allows water vapor to pass through while blocking larger particles like dust. This enables the sealed compartment to maintain pressure balance during machine operation without sacrificing the protective sealing function.
3Reliability
If protection cover and seal members are added to control panel, then dustproof and waterproof protection is improved, but the structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The protection cover is integrated with the rear panel of the control panel assembly, and the seal members are incorporated into the panel structures rather than being separate components. This merging of functions reduces the number of discrete parts while maintaining the protective sealing function.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealed compartment structure serves multiple functions: it protects the electronic member from water vapor and dust, provides mechanical mounting for the electronic component, and enables pressure balance through the breathable portion. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate protective structures.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution effectively prevents water vapor and dust from reaching electronic components, maintaining their stability and functionality, while also simplifying the design and reducing costs through improved manufacturing processes.
Implementation Method 1
a first seal member being disposed between the protection cover and the panel body
Implementation Method 2
the ventilation slot is provided in the panel body, so that the increased water vapor inside a confined space may be discharged through the ventilation slot, to balance pressure inside and outside the confined space
Implementation Method 3
a second seal member is disposed on an edge of the opening, and the second seal member is pressed tightly on a circuit board around the protection cover and the circuit port
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5
AI summary
A control panel component of a clothes processing machine, including a panel body (2) and an electronic member (4) mounted on a back of the panel body (2), where a protection cover (10) is fixedly mounted on the panel body (2), and the electronic member (4) is accommodated between the panel body (2) and the protection cover (10), where a first seal member (12) is disposed between the protection cover (10) and the panel body (2). Due to a sealing effect of the protection cover (10), the electronic member (4) is not affected by water vapor and foreign matters in the air and has more stable performance. A clothes processing machine including a control panel component is further disclosed.